07/05/2009

Associated Press

Chase contender David Reutimann was involved in a 13-car accident at Daytona International Speedway.

The wreck near the halfway point of the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night also included four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon and fellow Chase contenders Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman.

The melee started on lap 77 when Kahne hit David Stremme from behind and sent him spinning across the superspeedway. Cars started slowing down behind the crash, and Reutimann got turned sideways. He entered the 160-lap race 14th in the points standings.

Gordon was second in points, Newman was seventh and Kahne was 13th — one spot out of the final spot for the Chase for the championship.